Kris Bryant is a big reason the Chicago Cubs are one win away from their first NLCS since 2003. The rookie made his MLB debut in mid-April and logged one of the most successful first-year campaigns in recent memory.
As a result, Baseball America named Bryant their MLB Rookie of the Year.
Bryant batted .275/.369/.488 with 87 runs scored, 26 home runs, 99 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 151 games. He led all rookies in runs scored, doubles (31), home runs, RBIs, OPS (.858) and WAR (6.0). He was named to the NL All-Star team and should win NL Rookie of the Year when the BBWAA submit their votes after the 2015 MLB postseason comes to a close.
It's an unbelievable run, especially since Bryant did not make the MLB roster after a wildly impressive spring training. The 23-year-old batted .425/.477/1.175 with 14 runs scored, 9 home runs and 15 RBIs in 14 games (40 at-bats), but started the year off at Triple-A Iowa most likely due to service time considerations.
If the Cubs kept Bryant in the minors for the first 11 days of the 2015 season they would gain an extra year of club control over him before he became eligible for free agency, which is exactly what they did.
"I'm just playing with a chip on my shoulder," Bryant told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago-Sun Times, who penned the piece for Baseball America. "All that stuff's in the past. I don't think about that at all. That's just how I play the game. I play hard. I play confidently. And I play because it's fun."
Baseball America has awarded Bryant with a number of other accolades in previous years. In 2014 the slugger was named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year and in 2013 he was recognized as Baseball America's College Player of the Year. It's the first time in the publication's history that a player has won all three awards.
No one's ever pulled all three. Congratulations @KrisBryant_23 https://t.co/wY1CD1u5A0
— John Manuel (@johnmanuelba) October 13, 2015
Bryant has a long career ahead of him and should be among the best in the MLB as he continues to progress. But first he'll have to focus on getting the Cubs past the St. Louis Cardinals tonight in Game 4 of the NLDS.
